Join more civilized nations

January 3, 2013

I am a Viet Nam veteran, U.S.M.C., lifetime member of VFW and VNVA, continuing member of American Legion, was a long time member of NRA, own many guns, including assault rifles and hold a concealed carry license.

Guns kill people. It is as simple as that. Gun control works. Simply look at Canada, Britain, Australia, Taiwan and other nations. A knife attack in China wounds 22 people - they all survive.

It is time to stand up to the NRA. They are simply wrong. If the second amendment does give us the right to own assault rifles, high capacity magazines, and similarly equipped handguns, then it needs to be amended or eliminated. This is 2012, not 1812.

The arguments in favor of unlimited access to most all types of rifles and handguns are without merit.

There is a direct correlation between the number of firearms in the hands of private citizens and the number of gun deaths in a nation.

Fact Box

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Mail letters to: Letters to the Editor, The Daily Mining Gazette, P.O. Box 368, Houghton, MI 49931. Letters may also be e-mailed to jnordberg@mininggazette.com or submitted on the Gazette's Web site, mininggazette.com, by clicking on "Submit News."

To deny the obvious is to be selfish and arrogant. It is time for a change of attitude. We must join the more civilized nations of this world and protect our citizens and children from the out of control gun violence.